When a system receives an unstructured collection of documents, it must search through noise before it can answer. More model capacity may hide that problem for a while, but it does not make the source material easier to interpret or govern.
Build a knowledge map
Hierarchical context and metadata make documents easier to retrieve and review. A knowledge map records topics, ownership, relationships, currency and access rules. The system can then retrieve a smaller, more relevant context instead of treating every file as equally important.
Why this works on ordinary CPUs
Better retrieval reduces the context length and the number of unnecessary model operations. This benefits CPU-based local inference because memory bandwidth and prompt processing are constrained resources. Efficient structure improves both quality and runtime cost.
Conclusion
Start with the information architecture: identify the decision, organise the evidence and define how sources are maintained. Hardware selection becomes more effective once the system knows what it is actually trying to find.